January 29, 2010

GOP Has New Counsel for Judicial, DOJ Nominations

Republicans have a new lawyer to handle nominations that come before the Senate Judiciary Committee, including the president's picks for the federal bench and the U.S. Department of Justice.

It's a promotion for Danielle Cutrona, who will have the title of chief counsel for nominations on the committee's GOP staff. She’s worked as a Republican counsel for the committee since March 2008 and previously was an associate at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge and at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

Republican efforts on nominations were handled by a group of staff lawyers for much of last year, after the committee’s former top Republican, Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, switched parties.

In a news release, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), the committee’s current top Republican, called Cutrona’s promotion well-deserved. “Her hard work for the committee over the past several months has been an invaluable asset,” he said.

Three stalled Justice Department nominees are set for votes in committee next week, after President Barack Obama renominated them this month: Dawn Johnsen for the Office of Legal Counsel, Christopher Schroeder for the Office of Legal Policy, and Mary Smith for the Tax Division.

Cutrona has a law degree from Seton Hall University. She is a former president of the Federalist Society’s New Jersey Lawyers Chapter, according to the news release.